Shower Rod Support Device

ABSTRACT

A shower rod support device includes a pair of plates and a pair of couplers. Each coupler is coupled to a respective plate and is configured to couple to a respective opposing end of a shower rod. Each plate is configured for installation in a respective opposing end wall of a tiled shower enclosure proximate to a front of the tiled shower enclosure. Each coupler is positioned on a respective plate such that the coupler is configured to couple to the respective opposing end of the shower rod. The shower rod is supported in a substantially horizontal position between the pair of plates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIE THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention. (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The disclosure and prior art relates to support devices and more particularly pertains to a new support device for a shower rod.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pair of plates and a pair of couplers. Each coupler is coupled to a respective plate and is configured to couple to a respective opposing end of a shower rod. Each plate is configured for installation in a respective opposing end wall of a tiled shower enclosure proximate to a front of the tiled shower enclosure. Each coupler is positioned on a respective plate such that the coupler is configured to couple to the respective opposing end of the shower rod. The shower rod is supported in a substantially horizontal position between the pair of plates.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a shower rod support device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new support device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the shower rod support device 10 generally comprises a pair of plates 12. Each plate 12 has an exposed face 14, which preferably is substantially rectangularly shaped. More preferably, the exposed face 14 is substantially square shaped. Most preferably, each plate 12 has dimensions substantially equivalent to 10.8 centimeters by 10.8 centimeters by 0.64 centimeters, such that the plates 12 are sized substantially equivalently to tiles commonly used in tiled shower enclosures. The exposed face 14 of the plate 12 is installable substantially coplanarly with the surface of a tiled shower enclosure. The plates 12 also are configured for cutting such that the plates 12 can be used in tiled shower enclosures having less commonly sized tiles.

Each of a pair of couplers 16 is coupled to a respective plate 12. Each coupler 16 is configured to couple to a respective opposing end of a shower rod. Preferably, the pair of couplers 16 comprises a first fastener 18 and a second fastener 20. The first fastener 18 is coupled by a first terminus 22 to the respective plate 12. The first fastener 18 is tubular, such that a second terminus 24 of the first fastener 18 is open. Preferably, the first fastener 18 is circular when viewed longitudinally.

The second fastener 20 comprises a ledge 26 that is coupled by a first edge 28 to the respective plate 12. The ledge 26 extends transversely from the plate 12 defining a second edge 30 of the ledge 26. The ledge 26 has opposing endpoints 32 that define an open top 34. The ledge 26 comprises a center section 36 that is semi-circularly shaped. Preferably, the ledge 26 also comprises a pair of retainers 38. Each retainer 38 extends vertically from a respective opposing side 40 of the center section 36, thus defining the open top 34. The second terminus 24 of the first fastener 18 is configured for insertion of a first opposing end of the shower rod and the open top 34 of the second fastener 20 is configured for insertion a second opposing end of the shower rod into the second fastener 20.

A plurality of holes 42 is positioned through the second fastener 20. The holes 42 are positioned in the second fastener 20 such that water is drainable from the second fastener 20. Preferably, the plurality of holes 42 comprises two holes 42 bracketing a center point 44 of the second fastener 20.

Preferably, each coupler 16 and the respective plate 12 are formed as a single unit 46. More preferably, each single unit 46 comprises ceramic.

In use, each plate 12 is configured for installation in a respective opposing end wall of a tiled shower enclosure proximate to a front of the tiled shower enclosure. Each coupler 16 is positioned on a respective plate 12 such that the coupler 16 is configured to couple to the respective opposing end of the shower rod. The shower rod is supported in a substantially horizontal position between the pair of plates 12.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A shower rod support system comprising: a shower being at least partially lined by a plurality of tiles; a pair of plates, each of said plates being positioned amongst and integrated into said tiles; a pair of couplers, each said coupler being coupled to a respective said plate, each said coupler being configured to couple to a respective opposing end of a shower rod, said pair of couplers being a first fastener and a second fastener comprising said first fastener being coupled by a first terminus to said respective said plate, said first fastener having a second terminus, said first fastener being tubular, such that said second terminus is open; and said second fastener comprising a ledge coupled by a first edge to said respective said plate, said ledge extending transversely from said plate defining a second edge of said ledge, said ledge having opposing endpoints defining an open top, and a plurality of holes positioned through said second fastener, wherein said holes are positioned in said second fastener such that water is drainable from said second fastener; wherein said plates are horizontally aligned across the shower such that said first fastener and said second fastener are configured for coupling to the respective opposing end of the shower rod such that the shower rod is supported in a substantially horizontal position between said pair of plates.
 2. The system of claim 1, further including each said plate having an exposed face, said exposed face being substantially rectangularly shaped.
 3. The system of claim 2, further including said exposed face being substantially square shaped.
 4. The system of claim 3, further including each said plate and each said tile having dimensions substantially equivalent to 10.8 centimeters by 10.8 centimeters by 0.64 centimeters.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: said first fastener being circular when viewed longitudinally; said ledge comprising: a center section, said center section being semi-circularly shaped, and a pair of retainers, each said retainer extending vertically from a respective opposing side of said center section defining said open top; and wherein said second terminus of said first fastener is configured for insertion of a first opposing end of the shower rod, such that said open top of said second fastener is configured for insertion a second opposing end of the shower rod into said second fastener.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The system of claim 1, further including said plurality of holes comprising two holes bracketing a center point of said second fastener.
 9. The system of claim 1, further including each said coupler and said respective said plate being formed as a single unit.
 10. The system of claim 9, further including said single unit comprising ceramic.
 11. A shower rod support system comprising: a shower being at least partially lined by a plurality of tiles; a pair of plates, each of said plates being positioned amongst and integrated into said tiles, each said plate having an exposed face, said exposed face being substantially rectangularly shaped, said exposed face being substantially square shaped, each of said plates and said tiles having dimensions substantially equivalent to 10.8 centimeters by 10.8 centimeters by 0.64 centimeters; a pair of couplers, each said coupler being coupled to a respective said plate, each said coupler being configured to couple to a respective opposing end of a shower rod, being a first fastener and a second fastener wherein said first fastener is coupled by a first terminus to said respective said plate, said first fastener having a second terminus, said first fastener being tubular, such that said second terminus is open, said first fastener being circular when viewed longitudinally, said second fastener comprises a ledge coupled by a first edge to said respective said plate, said ledge extending transversely from said plate defining a second edge of said ledge, said ledge having opposing endpoints defining an open top, said ledge comprising: a center section, said center section being semi-circularly shaped, and a pair of retainers, each said retainer extending vertically from a respective opposing side of said center section defining said open top, and wherein said second terminus of said first fastener is configured for insertion of a first opposing end of the shower rod, such that said open top of said second fastener is configured for insertion a second opposing end of the shower rod into said second fastener; a plurality of holes positioned through said second fastener, wherein said holes are positioned in said second fastener such that water is drainable from said second fastener, said plurality of holes comprising two holes bracketing a center point of said second fastener; each said coupler and said respective said plate being formed as a single unit, said single unit comprising ceramic; and wherein said plates are horizontally aligned across the shower such that said first fastener and said second fastener are configured for coupling to the respective opposing end of the shower rod such that the shower rod is supported in a substantially horizontal position between said pair of plates. 